Skagway Arts Beat

﻿Anchorage architect and former Skagway resident David Moore, third from left, discusses possible locations of the outdoor arts facility with committee members at Seven Pastures Park, the committee’s preferred site. The committee will be presenting their findings to the Skagway Borough Assembly next month, and they also plan to host a community meeting in April. They have requested $250,000 for the project in the borough’s next budget cycle, with a $50,000 match from the new Margaret Frans Brady Fund (see page 2). Jeff Brady

﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿Film Festival coming up

﻿The 4th Annual Winter Weekend Film Festival is upon us! The festival will run Feb. 17-19 at AB Hall.
Exciting selections from the 2011 Anchorage Film Festival are in the offering. Some of the highlights include:
• “The Dead Inside,” winner of the 2011 Golden Oosik for Best Feature.
• “Bike/Ski/Raft Denali Traverse”, winner of the Best Snowdance Short film.
• “Something Left, Something Taken”, winner of the Best Animation Short film.
Other short films will be shown daily; we expect 10-12 additional short films that will be interspersed with the feature films.
We have three other documentaries of interest:
• “Revision” about artists who use recycled materials in artwork.
• “Vanishing of the Bees” with a discussion following.
• “Beat Boxing - The 5th Element of Hip Hop and Playing For Change”
Returning for the fourth time will be the Best of the Northwest Film and Video Festival Tour.
All shows will be on large screen format at the AB Hall, Feb. 17-19, with refreshments available for purchase.
Tickets are available in advance for Valentine’s Day gift giving at Skaguay News Depot and You Say Tomato.
Weekend passes are $20, and individual shows are $5 each. Weekend pass-holders will be entered into a pre-show drawing for a chance to sit in the VIP recliner for the duration of that show!
Skagway Arts Council members receive a credit for two free refreshments during the weekend.
Check the newspaper ad below for a copy of our film schedule or pick one up from bulletin boards around town. – Skagway Arts Council (click for updated schedule).

More classes this month
• Ukulele making class - Feb. 25, Feb. 26, March 3, and March 4 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and possibly some evenings Feb. 27 through March 2. Cost is $38. Contact Kathy Wassman at 612-0664 for more details and to sign up. Classes will be in the workshop at the school. Instructor: Chris Maggio.
• Earring making class - Feb. 19, 1-3 p.m. at Skagway City Library. Cost is $15 per pair of earrings.Contact Kathy Wassman 612-0664 to sign up.
Instructor: Kathy Wassman. – SAC

Rasmuson Foundation now accepting applications for Individual Artist Awards
Calling all Alaskan artists: The Rasmuson Foundation just opened the application period for its annual Individual Artist Awards grant program, and it’s more inclusive than ever.
The awards are designed to support Alaskan artists at various stages in their career and creative development working in many artistic disciplines. New this year, the field of presentation and interpretation was added to the fellowship category, opening the award to actors, dancers, musicians, vocalists and other performance artists. The Foundation awarded more than $230,000 in last year’s Individual Artist Awards program, and expects to make a similar number of awards in 2012.
“What makes these awards special is that the money is for the individual artist to pursue their own work,” said Jayson Smart, program officer for Rasmuson Foundation. “It’s not a commissioned award, it’s for the artist to use to advance themselves in their own artistic practice.”
Applications may be filed online on the Rasmuson Foundation website and must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. March 1, or sent by mail and postmarked by March 1, 2012.
Since 2004, the Individual Artist Awards program has awarded 232 grants, totaling nearly $1.7 million, directly to Alaska artists.
Rasmuson Foundation created the Individual Artist Awards to foster the growth of serious artists, helping them continue to create, experiment and contribute art to Alaska communities. Eligible applicants are Alaska residents of two or more years who have not won an Individual Artist Award in the past three years and are 18 years or older.
Interested applicants can receive more information and apply online at /www.rasmuson.org
Awards are available in three different programs: project awards of up to $5,000 meant for artists with short-term project needs; artist fellowship awards of up to $12,000 for mid-career and mature artists to advance their career; and, an unrestricted $25,000 distinguished artist award in recognition of creative excellence and superior accomplishments.
Additional information is also available by calling 907-297-2700 or 877-366-2700 (toll free in Alaska), or by writing the Rasmuson Foundation, 301 W Northern Lights Boulevard, Suite 300, Anchorage, Alaska 99503.
Rasmuson Foundation was created in May 1955 by Jenny Rasmuson to honor her late husband, “E.A.” Rasmuson. The Foundation is a catalyst to promote a better life for all Alaskans.